Small buttonquail

There are only two sightings of small buttonquail for the whole of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. 

About Small Buttonquail:

• Turnix sylvaticus(Small Buttonquail) is a species of birds in the family buttonquails.
• They are native to the Palearctic, Asia, and Ethiopia.
• They are diurnal omnivores. 
• The small buttonquail is polyandrous, which means the male single-handedly shoulders child-rearing responsibilities.
  
  
• Habitat
  • Small buttonquail are found on dry sandy soil, in open bush, low scrub, in short grass, and fallow cultivated lands (Jackson, 1926).
  • They are found where there is ground cover in which to hide. Suitable ground cover includes dwarf palmetto vegetation, cotton, millet or cassave crops, savanna bush, or stubble fields.
  • Bamboo jungle is favored and dense evergreen forests, deserts and wetlands are avoided.
• Behaviour
• Turnix sylvaticus is considered to be a sedentary species. Subspecies may be locally migratory or nomadic in northwestern India.
• These buttonquail enjoy basking in the sun and dust-bathing.